MARCH 4, 1966

Full News Archive

• Headline: Record-Breaking Wholesale Sales in January. Impact: The record sales led to an explosion in the coffee market, where merchants began to sell artisanal blends that would one day fuel hipster coffee shops in every corner of the world. Thanks, 1966 merchants, for our caffeine addiction!. Fact: Did you know that in 1966, the average American still thought 'organic' meant it came from a garden? Thank goodness for progress!.
• Headline: Yarmouth Castle Disaster Investigated. Impact: The blame placed on the officers sparked an international movement for maritime safety, leading to the invention of the 'life jacket selfie' trend centuries later, ensuring everyone knows just how safe they are while drowning.. Fact: The Yarmouth Castle disaster directly led to the first regulations for fire safety on ships. Go figure—who knew fire was bad on a boat?.
• Headline: Stockpile Disposal Reaches Rate of $1-Billion a Year. Impact: The stockpile disposal rate paved the way for future generations to realize that hoarding items only leads to clutter and regret. Who knew the government was ahead of its time in decluttering?. Fact: If you think $1 billion a year is a lot, just wait until you see what the government spends on coffee for meetings!.
• Headline: M'NAMARA DENIES U.S. VIETNAM ROLE THREATENS PEKING; He Asserts a Peaceful Red China 'Has No Reason to Fear Military Action' FULBRIGHT IS DOUBTFUL Sees Danger of Intervention by Communist Regime to Prevent Hanoi's Defeat McNamara Denies U.S. Poses a Threat to Peking. Impact: McNamara's denial set off a chain of misunderstandings that would eventually lead to an entire generation believing that Peking was a mythical land filled with dragons and mythical diplomacy.. Fact: Fun fact: In the 1960s, the U.S. foreign policy was largely based on the idea that if you ignore a problem long enough, it might just go away. Spoiler: It didn't..
• Headline: House Supports a Tax For Cotton Promotion. Impact: The self-taxing initiative for cotton promotion opened the floodgates for farmers to start self-taxing for all sorts of bizarre reasons, including funding a 'Cotton Olympics.'. Fact: Taxing yourself $1 a bale is a lot like paying for your own birthday cake—doesn't seem fair, does it?.
• Headline: Bonwit's Is First With the Imports. Impact: Bonwit Teller’s import success led to the rise of fast fashion, which would eventually become the bane of the planet. So, thanks for the planet-destroying trend, Bonwit!. Fact: In 1966, shopping was still a novel experience. Now, it's a competitive sport involving online carts and impulse buys!.
• Headline: Ex-Justice Aide Indicted. Impact: The indictment of an ex-justice aide for tax evasion set off a wave of public distrust in government officials that would echo through the ages, leading to the phrase 'politicians are just like the rest of us'—which is a pretty low bar.. Fact: Tax evasion was a hot topic back then, but let's be real: it still is. Maybe some things just never change!.